Blackberries

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There are at least 122 species of blackberries in the United States alone -- one authority claims 200 for North America. All are of the genus rubus, which also includes Boysenberries, dewberries, Loganberries, raspberries, tayberries, thimbleberries, wineberries, and Youngberries, and are related to the rose (genus rosa). They are found in every state of the United states, every province of Canada, and in most of Mexico.

The blackberry is a caning shrub, often growing into thickets or brambles, usually armed with thorns, spines or stiff hairs, with 3-7 leaved leaflets but most often 5. It will grow almost anywhere, but particularly does well at wooded borders, along fences, in fallow clearings, and along roadsides, rivers and railroads. The berries form from white, showy, 5-petal flowers that grow in clusters in the early to late spring. The berries are actually rounded or thimble-shaped clusters sharing a common attachment to the stem. These in turn also grow in clusters that turn from light green to rose, then red, then deep purple to black, ripening in mid- to late summer. When ripe, the berries are very popular among birds and other wildlife.

I believe that blackberry wine is best when made vintage -- from fresh blackberries, without blending with other fruit or wines -- but a few blackberry blends are worth making and drinking and I have included them among the ten blackberry wine recipes on the next page.

Boysenberry, Thornless -- less vigorous with lower yields than thorny parent, but sweet, juicy, full-bodied flavor makes it more desirable for wine; easily transplanted, grows to 5 fee tall, self-pollinating, produces fruit first year after planting; ripens May to June;

Hull (Hull Thornless, Rubus lanciniatus) Blackberry -- similar to Black Satin; large to very large, firm, flavorful, sweet fruit; highly vigorous, semierect, thornless canes whose fruit hold up well on hot days; yields about twice as much as most thorned varieries; ripes in July; not suited for Deep South or Far North;

Illini Hardy Blackberry -- Shiny fruit with a delicious, slightly acidic, wild blackberry flavor; more vigorous than Darrow, ripens in early August, does well in northern areas; developed by U. of Illinois;

Jumbo, Stark (Shawnee Cultivar) Blackberry -- very large, tasty fruit up to 1 1/2 inches long; longer production season than most; not recommended for Deep South or Far North;

Loganberry (Logan, Thornless Logan, Thornless Loganberry) -- thought to be a cross between a wild blackberry and red raspberry; large, light red berries that do not darken when ripe; unique, tart flavor preferred by many over all other berries and very good for wine; thornless canes, average yields;

Marionberry -- medium to large, medium firm, bright, shiny, redish-black berries; higher yields over a longer picking season than Boysenberries; developed for western Washington and Oregon;

Navaho (Navajo) Blackberry -- very small berries with possibly the best flavor of any blackberry; thornless canes do well in Deep South; developed by U. of Arkansas;

Ollallie (Olallieberry, Rubus argutus) Blackberry -- large, shiny, firm black berries that ripen in July; sweeter and less tart than others, with some wild blackberry flavor; vigorous, productive, thorny trailing canes; developed in Oregon but does extremely well in California;

Roseborough Blackberry -- extra large, sweet, shiny, black berries similar to Brazos but with improved flavor and firmness; tolerates extreme heat and dryness and is well suited to the South; heavy crops on upright canes that are easily harvested; developed by Texas A&M;

Santiam Blackberry -- wild type fruit that ripens in July;

Shawnee Blackberry -- large, high quality, sweet, juicy, flavorful, shiny, black fruit; fast-growing, erect canes with consistently high yields and long fruiting season; probably the largest fruit and most productive of all thorny varieties; developed by U. of Arkansas;

Sources of Information on Blackberry Cultivation

A number of schools (University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University, etc.) offer excellent reference material on blackberry cultivation. But by far the most consistently reliable source of information tailored to your climate and soils is your County Agricultural Extension Agent. You can find him (or her) listed in the county government section of your local phone book.